MHKflyer52 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Well I have finally started to make a cover for the area over the trunk / gas tank area of my car and have realized that I need some information on how to make the cover as I have now wasted the material that I purchased to make the cover and I know that I could just take it to a shop and have it made but I want to do it myself so that I learn how. Here is were I am running into problems: 1. How do you make the edging fold evenly enough to have the edge lay flat enough to sew it down with out having it be all bunched up and lumpy when making a curve to go around the curved parts such as the roll bar. I know to cut "V" notches in the edge to help fold the material back when doing a curve but it keeps coming out with lumps or ripples that look like junk and are hard to sew over. 2. Do I need to have a backing for the area were the snaps buttons will be fitted to the cover and what is the best way to keep from crushing the button when pressing them with the eyelet and snap tool that I have. The tool is like a center punch with interchangeable ends to flare the center post for different size snaps. I have played with a couple and I keep causing the cap or face of the snap to deform when I flare the center post enough to keep the top of the snap from pulling out of the material on my test samples. Is their a better tool to do this like some kind of special pliers or press that is not cost prohibitive. Any help or information is much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 No advice regarding the material, but what I did for the snap buttons was to weld the punch and the anvil pieces of the "crimping tool" to the working faces of a 6" C-clamp. That way you can clamp this new tool upright in a bench vice, then align the snaps in the material while a helper gradually turns the crank on the C-clamp. Takes all the variability out of bashing the bits with a hammer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 13, 2009 Author Share Posted June 13, 2009 Good idea....why did I not think of that. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowss7 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Martin, I JUST fitted my boot cover after 9 years. I have the tool that Caterham supplied with the kit. The tool, has a concave machined spot for the button part to sit in while you bash the post with the punch like tool. Let me know if you want to borrow it. As for your edges, could you glue them first, to keep them straight? Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xflow7 Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 I don't have any experience with making something like that cover, but as a resource I would recommend a book about DIY boat projects. There are many that discuss making bimini tops, etc which will be of similar weight material and probably employ many of the same techniques. Have a gander at the library or Barnes and Noble or similar and I'll bet you'll find something. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 14, 2009 Author Share Posted June 14, 2009 Now that is an avenue that I did not even think about. Thanks Dave. This is why I am a member of this forum....lots of good ideas and useful help like gluing the edges to help keep them straight.....Thanks Tom....started looking at the tool I have and to set the snap buttons and it looks like I need a larger set seat to keep from deforming the button part of the snap. The part that the button sits in looks to be a little small for the pull-dot-snaps that I was given or maybe they take a special seat set. Well off to the local Barnes and Noble to see what I can find out then on to the shop to tinker with my project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 Well today I spent all day cutting and sewing and placing snaps and buttons on my new home made boot cover and car. Still have to finish were the rollbar back supports come down through the cover. Hardest part was drilling that first hole in my rear aluminum pannel...that was hard to due but after the first hole the rest were easy (22 in all so far). Well here are a couple of photos of how it looks so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 looks great Martin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGTorque Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 lookin nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHKflyer52 Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 Thanks for the kind words.....Drove it to work today and what a differance the cover makes....less buffet and wind noise and a place to put stuff with out having to have it weighted down to keep from blowing out while going down the road.....also looks a lot more finished now and it still is not completed....have to do around the rollbar tubes still and make two flaps to cover the splits on both sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted June 24, 2009 Share Posted June 24, 2009 very nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultraslow Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I have a carbon fiber-look vinyl boot cover for an S3, for body w/o sticks,. purchased from Catherham in UK. Unused, I bought the wrong one; I have sticks.( at the time I didn't know what that meant) all the snaps ect to fit it. Cost 105UK will sell for $75 plus shipping. Interested? Steve/Ultraslow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Steve, I'm planning on ditching my hood sticks -- never use them, the with my SoftBits bikini top. I am interested in buying your boot cover for a boot w/o sticks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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